Derek couldn't help but notice that something was up, aside from being a profiler, despite the time and distance between him and his best friend recently, he could still read her, and felt that there was something she was holding back on.

By the time Mac and Penelope descended from the roof top, the pizza had arrived. Penelope smiled as Derek handed her a plate already filled with her favourite toppings.

"Thanks Morgs,"

"So what is everyone getting here tomorrow?" Danny asked in between mouthfuls

"Around two?" Donnie answered while Mac nodded. Penelope and Stella were coming in earlier to help with the final touches,

"You up for a little Basketball Morgan?" Danny asked. Derek threw a look at Penelope,

"You should play with the boys. I can meet you back here. I was going to come early to help with prep anyway."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Of course. Have fun. But careful, those two cheat."

"Hey!" Donnie and Danny said in protest.

"Mac why don't you play, Stell and I can get things up and running here. It's just a matter of shoving things in the oven anyway,"

"Yeah Mac, you should play with the boys. It'll be good to have a girl's catch up. Why don't you get dropped off here Linds when Danny picks up the boys?" Stella suggested,

"That sounds great, I'll let you know. It all depends on little miss here," Lindsay answered pointing at the sleeping tot in her arms.

With plans made for the following day Penelope and Derek headed back to their hotel. Yawning Penelope let Derek open the door to their hotel room while she leaned against the doorframe waiting.

"Come on Baby Girl, you're almost there." He said amused,

"Awesome! Just point me towards the bed."

"How about I lead you to the bathroom first," he said gently pushing her towards the direction of the bathroom.

"Mmm kay," she murmured sleepily. Washing her face, brushing her teeth and jumping into her pj's took no time at all, which always impressed Derek. She was the only woman he knew who could get ready so fast.

"Night Handsome." She said dropping her lips on his head before heading straight into her bed,

"Night Baby Girl. Sleep tight." He replied tucking her in running his fingers through her hair till she fell into a deep sleep.

The following morning Penelope and Derek arrived at Mac's at ten in the morning. Just as they drove into the parking lot, Stella had just gotten out of her car.

"Hey Stella Bella." Penelope greeted cheerfully. Derek watched as the two women exchanged a meaningful hug,

"I spoke to Olivia last night in my incoherent state on the way back to the hotel, and she's going to come over early too. She should be here in a half hour."

"Excellent! The three muskeeters together again."

"Mac would be so pleased." Penelope commented dryly earning a knowing chuckle from Stella.

Stella and Penelope shooed the boys out of the house the moment they walked in, knowing that they were meeting Donnie and Danny at 10:30. Olivia arrived not long after that.

"So have you told him about the job offer?" Olivia asked,

"No, I haven't really told anyone except Dave and Hotch. I was going to tell Derek sometime during this trip, after Christmas."

"P, regardless when you decide to do it, it's going to be just as hard." Stella said gently,

"I know that, I do. As selfish as it sounds, I want it to be an angst free Christmas. I can deal with all that other stuff after Christmas, but for now, I just want to enjoy the holidays."

"Fair enough. How are things with you both?"

"Better Liv, much better than your visit on my birthday."

"Good, because I was ready to go all ghetto on him when I saw him" Olivia declared in admission.

Christmas dinner was a festive family affair. The teasing back and forth was like of those between siblings, and there certainly was no shortage of love in the room. Stella, Mac, Penelope, Olivia, Donnie, Sheldon and Derek went to midnight mass, as per tradition as Danny and Lindsay took Lucy home to bed. Derek draped an arm around Penelope's shoulder as she shivered during mass. Penelope did not miss the smirk that Olivia had on her face that she caught at the corner of her eye, she made a mental note to give her smack when she got a chance. After midnight mass they all went their separate ways agreeing to meet back at Mac's the following morning to open presents and have brunch.

When Penelope and Derek got back to their hotel room, they both dug into their bags to pull out each other's presents. Though they had both dropped off most of their presents at Mac's for the opening of presents the next morning, they had both kept one to give the other unbeknown to the other.

"Merry Christmas," they said in unison as they handed each other a gift. Penelope curiously took the Tiffany Box from him and gasped as she saw that he had bought her a Tiffany Somerset ring. She looked up at him with questioning eyes. Derek took the ring from her and slipped in on to her middle finger.

"I love you P, you're my best friend in the whole world, and I may have seemingly forgotten that, but I want you to know that I never did. I get so lost into my own head sometimes and I hide, but it doesn't mean I've stopped caring. I wasn't quite sure what to get you this year, but the moment I saw this I thought of you, so I wanted you to have it so that when you saw it, you would think of me, and you would remember that I am always here for you, that I always will be." With tears in her eyes Penelope placed a hand on his cheek and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"Thank you Derek. Here, Merry Christmas." She said handing him her present. Derek grinned as his eyes fell on the watch that he has had his eye on for months. He hadn't even told her about it.

"I thought you could use a new watch." She explained pointing to his worn out, well loved watch.

"Thanks Baby Girl. I love it." Derek pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

"I love you too Derek, just so you know." She whispered against his ear. Derek pulled back to look at her and grinned,

"It's always good to hear Princess."